09/08/2026
MY RACING STORY
Ron Gray Jr.
The water shakes before you even hear it. Then the sound hits. 1,150 horsepower screaming through a boat that weighs less than 1300 Ibs. And for a few seconds, nothing else exists. That's drag boat racing. That's what got me. The raw, violent speed across the water. The way everything has to be perfect or it all can go sideways. But here's the truth that doesn't get talked about enough; Speed didn't keep me in this sport, people did. All the volunteers at the track, the hard working folks in all the clubs and associations, fellow racers, fans/followers, and of course, the people behind the brands that build and distribute all the parts that keep these boats going down the track.
There were times I didn't know if I could keep going. After sinking FLATBADD at the end of my first season in 2024, money got really tight and several people stepped forward to help get us back on the race track in 2025 with a completely new boat, engine, and lots of hard work (FLATBADD Il). Parts break, boats need set up, engines needs tuned, you question everything. And every single time, my team was there. Not once. Not twice. Over and over again.
My wife, Niki. She's been in the trenches with me since day one. She doesn't just support me, she carries this thing right alongside me. My daughter, McKenzie. Watching her maneuver the tow vehicle to back me into the water, seeing her face when we fire that engine... that changed what this means to me. Bob Toal (Snake) builds and tunes our engine. The man is a genius with his hands and his mind. Without Bob, there is no program. Allan Lint , Ron Solomon, John and Julie Solboth, Jason Moon. These aren't just crew members, they're family. They give up their weekends, their sleep, their time, because they believe in what we're building. And then there's Joe Bromley. A friend. A sponsor. A man who put his money where his faith is. Joe's financial support didn't just keep us racing. It kept the whole operation alive. That's my turning point. Not a single race. Not a trophy. It was looking around one day and realizing these people weren't going anywhere. They kept being there, so I will keep working hard and doing my best to make their effort worth-while.
Now the mission is clear; We as a team want to win more races and championships while continuing to making long life memories and relationships with everyone around us. That is what its all about. Building real relationships with sponsors who see what this sport can do for their brand, more interactions, more visibility, more sales for the people who invest in us. Because drag boat racing isn't "some niche thing people forget about." The fans are loud, the followers are real, the community is tight. When you put a sponsor's name on a boat doing 131 mph and covering a 1000ft in 6.5 seconds. it matters.
There were nights in the shop working on the boat when I questioned "where we are going?" and "How we are getting there?" Then I would look at my phone and see a text/email from a brand partner or someone on my crew checking in on the "fix it list" to make sure nothing gets missed. Every detail matters. Every bolt, every call, every piece of advice, every recommendation, every handshake, matters.
I will to continue to work hard for the team and most importantly for all of our brand partners. Working toward long term relationships with full support from them as we increase their sales, bring product awareness and brand loyalty to them for that Win-Win partnership. Not just for me, for all the people involved in the motorsports world.
They believed. Now it's my turn to deliver.
THANK YOU!
To : my team, friends, family, fellow racers, sponsors, supporters, that makes this journey possible!
